Many women enjoy the convenience and versatility of wigs, for a variety of reasons. No matter how your natural hair looks that day, your wig will always look great. It's styled to permanently look its best. For women fighting breast or other cancers and battling the effects of chemotherapy, a wig can be their best friend as they watch their hair fall out. Some women suffer from alopecia, where the immune system goes haywire and attacks hair follicles, causing the hair on the scalp to fall out in clumps. Still other women just don't like their hair as they age as it tends to become thinner. Graying hair is yet another reason wigs continue to remain popular, and some women just like to change their hairstyles frequently. 

While a wig is extraordinarily easy to care for, it does require the basics to keep it clean and in good order. How it is cleaned depends on what it is made from. Here are the basics on human hair wig care.

Human Hair Wigs Vs. Synthetic Wigs

One of the biggest advantages of human hair wigs is that they can be colored, curled, permed, and more, just like your own natural hair. You can also get a variety of textures, which will help if you want to match your hair closely. This advantage can also be a disadvantage. The color can fade, the curls will eventually relax, and the weather will affect it in the usual ways, such as getting frizzy when it's hot and humid outside. But because they have usually been processed in some way to remove the cuticle, the hair is typically more fragile than synthetic wigs are. This doesn't make one wig type better or worse than the other; they each have distinct advantages. For example, synthetic wigs are easy to care for and never lose their style, even after washing. A quality synthetic wig is very difficult to distinguish from a human hair wig. A consultation with a professional can help determine which type is best for you and your needs.

How Often Should A Human Hair Wig Be Washed?

Once every week or two is sufficient for a human hair wig. Washing it shortens the lifespan of the wig, so the less the better. If you wear a wig cap in between your scalp and the wig, the hairpiece won't become dirty as often.

Rinse it in cool water under the shower head. Shampoo with a specialty shampoo made specifically for wigs. Be careful not to get a longer wig tangled. Rinse, and then condition with a specialty cream rinse. Allow the conditioner to sit for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

How Should A Human Hair Wig Be Dried?

It's best to allow it to dry naturally on a wig stand. If you are pressed for time, you can blow dry the wig on a low and cool temperature setting. Use a pick or wide tooth comb along with your fingers to gently "brush" it once it is dried. 

How Should A Human Hair Wig Be Styled?

You can either use rollers to do a wet set, or you can opt for styling tools such as curling irons, straighteners, or electric curlers.

For more information, talk to a company like The Next Step.